Seeding Filter For A New Tank In A Cycled Tank?

HI I am thinking of getting a new 5.5g tank for a single male betta (will only buy him once the tank is ready). I currently have a 10 gallon cycled, moderately planted tank with 7 CPDs and ~25 RCS with an HOB and a sponge filter running. I also have an unused spare sponge filter and I read that you can seed it in a cycled tank to get a so-called instant cycle for a new tank.

So how exactly does this seeding of beneficial bacteria work and how long should I seed the unused sponge filter to get the instant cycle for the 5.5g betta tank I am planning to buy?

 

Personally what I would do is just put the seeded already sponge filter into the betta tank, and put the new one in the 10 gallon as it has the HOB additionally. But if you didn't want to do that ideally the new sponge should be run in the 10 gallon for up to a month at which point you could be sure it's safe.

 

Agreed that the new sponge filter could be put in your old tank and that you could put your old sponge filter in your new tank. The beneficial bacteria will still be in your HOB for your old tank and your new tank will be instantly cycled.

However, I've actually squeezed all of the gunk out of a sponge filter into my new tank as if I was cleaning out the sponge filter and left the new filter to run with it. It makes the water look like a disgusting coffee colour but it intstantly cycled my betta tank. I then threw a shrimp in there for an ammonia source in order to double check and my water parameters were perfect within a few days.

 

Samuel97 MaddieTaylah Yeah, those methods definitely sound like the best, fastest ways to get a new tank cycled but my CPDs seem to be wild caught specimen and I've lost 3 already even with consistently pristine water quality and densely planted tank so I'd rather not risking any crash in my 10 gallon by replacing the more established sponge filter with my spare one lol.

Well then, guess I'll just put my second sponge filter in my 10 gallon and wait for a month, huh?

 

Samuel97 MaddieTaylah Yeah, those methods definitely sound like the best, fastest ways to get a new tank cycled but my CPDs seem to be wild caught specimen and I've lost 3 already even with consistently pristine water quality and densely planted tank so I'd rather not risking any crash in my 10 gallon by replacing the more established sponge filter with my spare one lol.

Well then, guess I'll just put my second sponge filter in my 10 gallon and wait for a month, huh?

As I said you could squeeze some of the gunk out of the old sponge filter and introduce that good bacteria into the new tank but still keep the old one in the old tank and use the new one for cycling.

 

You don't need to wait for a month. 2 weeks is the longest ive ever seeded a sponge filter and ive never had any problems. The only thin you have to b careful with is making sure the new tanks bioload isn't more then the old tanks. For me I always try to aI'm for about half the bioload to be safe

 

MaddieTaylah I see. Maybe I will try that then.

smee82 With my 10 gallon only housing 7 CPDs and 25+ RCS, will it be sufficient for a single male betta in a 5.5gallon?

 

MaddieTaylah I see. Maybe I will try that then.

smee82 With my 10 gallon only housing 7 CPDs and 25+ RCS, will it be sufficient for a single male betta in a 5.5gallon?

To seed a filter? Yes. That many CPD will make some noticible waste. Though most usually comes from food that isn't really eaten.

 

MaddieTaylah I see. Maybe I will try that then.

smee82 With my 10 gallon only housing 7 CPDs and 25+ RCS, will it be sufficient for a single male betta in a 5.5gallon?

I wouldnt count any shrimp when trying to figure out the bioload but half a dozen cpd's would come close to one betta. I probably would do a water change 2 or 3 times the 1st week just to be safe and after it should be fine

 

I wouldn't suggest that squeezing method, all it would do is cloud up the water and produce a bit of ammonia to cycle, but you can do that with ammonia.

Two weeks might be sufficient but as I said before, a month is ideal. That bio load would be more than enough to get it ready for a betta.